The present disclosure relates to a system for safely lowering and raising a pole mounted lighting fixture. In an embodiment, the system comprises a pivoting pole mount having a first section and a second section, the second section rotatably hinged to the first section; and one or more shock absorbers, each shock absorber having a first end rotatably mounted to a first pivot point on the first section of the pivoting pole mount, and a second end rotatably mounted to a second pivot point on the second section of the pivoting pole mount. In use, the one or more shock absorbers counteract forces of rotation created when the first section and the second section of the pivoting pole mount are rotated relative to each other to decrease the distance between the first pivot point and the second pivot point.